Circular knitting machine



Feb. 2, 1932. I w. '1: BARRAT-r 1 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Fiid Dec. 12. 1929 e Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 2, 1932. w. T. BARRATT 1,843,412

CIRCULAR KNITTING 'MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1929 e Sheets-Sheet 2 [rave 72/ 607" William T Barra/C Feb. 2, 1 932. w, BAR-RATT 1,843,412

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE w. T. BARRATT 1,843,412

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Feb. 2, 1932.

Filgd Dec. 12, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 3 k I fill- 971607"; LOU/21mm T Bog/"r0160.

Feb. 2, 1932. w. r. BARRATT CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE- Filed Dec. 12, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 2, 1932 entree STATES PATENT 10 m 1 WILLIAM 'r. BARRA'I'T,

or nnnnrneron, vnnnon'r, nssrenon' TO CHARLES ooornn,

. COMPANY, INC., 0F IBENNINGTON, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OF VERMONT CIRCULAR KNITTING- MACHINE Application filed December 12, 1929 Serial No. 413,593. I

classin which two rotary circular needle beds;

are employed for knitting rib worln the same being preferably used in connection with two conical needle beds-employing springneedles to pro'ducea rib fabric.

Theobject of the nvention is to produce a machine of the character set forth for knitting striped fabric, that is, tubular fabric having stripes of any width or color extending circuinfer'entially 'therearound. l j

To this end'the machine of embodies aplu'ra'lity of yarn apart around the needle beds, feed embodying thereinlal single yarn guide, a presser for the primary needles, a sinker wheel for the primary needles," means tocut off and clamp the yarn, and means tothrow the yarn guide :and the presser for the pri mary needles out of operative position, and means to at the same time operate the cutting and clamping mechanism.

The invention. further contemplates the employment or" pattern mechanism whereby any of the feeds may be caused to be thrown; the feeds being]v into or out of operation,

throwninto or out oioperation by a'contact member rotating synchronously with the fnee dle cylinders and positioned thedifierent feeds, or thrown oii't 'ofposition so as not to operate upon tact member. positioned centpair members tern mechanisms. alt-er described, any ene feed or any number of feeds 'niay bev selectively caused to be being positioned by 'eration and held outoi operation or in 0-p eratiomwhereby stripes'offany Widthand dife this invention feeds, spaced,' and each yarn to operate'ufponf ondary' needle beds with the machine Edoing. said feeds by aoor lthe ordinarylznitting. v between each adja' of feeds, said last-named contact I means "of p'at- .By the mechanism herein{ 7 ffor the lower needles not being shown; thrown out of operation or thrown nto opr In the drawings, 20 is the'priinary bed, a V

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section, 1

* andsomewhat diagrammatic illustrating one complete feed and the pattern mechanism. H B 1g. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line easier Fig. 11'

needle beds, their respective bed plates and running rings being broken away. f l 4 isa detail plan view. of oneoofthe feed mechanisms. 7 V Y P Fig. '5 ifs a'detailedelevation of a portion of the mechanism tor positioning theswitch plate contact memb'r, whereby the driving contact memberis thrown into or out of aligngient gwiththe rotatable driven contact menu-'- er.

mechanism viewed in the direction of'the' arrow 6;, 1'. a Fig. 7 is a side; elevation of the pattern mechanism. 1 "Fig.8 is .a front elevation ofone of the pri- I marylnefedle operating cams Fig- 91s a sectional elevation taken on line" Figs. 10,

13isi a detail cross sectionthrough thejyarnlcutters taken online 1313,Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 "is a sectional on anenlarg'e'd' scale the primary and see V Fig. 15 is a similar sectional View showing the needle beds and the needles as, they .opQ- I erate when the yarn has been severed an the feed thrown out of operation, therebeing a presser for the upper needles, the presser 4,55 Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one feed, the} Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the pattern 11 and'12 are detail views'illusp crating the operation of the yarn guide and cutters. z I

elevation illustrating Like ni'imer'als rete'r'to like parts through-f out the several views of the -drawings. t

the" primary needles and 22* the? primary needle cams. The primary needlebed is :fas I tened'to a rotary running ring .23 rotatably r mountedlin a lower bed plate 24' supported upon a stationary frame. A rotary mot-ion;

. is impartedito the running-ring23 :and the)".

primary needle bed and its needles by a gear 25 fast to the lower running ring.

26 is the upper or secondary bed, 27 the secondary needles, 27 the secondary needle cams and 28 the upper running ring, to which the secondary bed is fastened. The upper running ring 28 is rotatably mounted in an upper bed plate 29 rigidly supported upon the frame of the machine and is rotated by means of a gear 30 fast to the upper running ring.

An annular cap plate 31 projects over the upper face of the gear 30 and is fastened to the upper bed plate 29. The gears 25 and 30 mesh into pinions, not shown in the drawings, but corresponding to the pinions 42 and 53 in applicants Patent No. 1,003,085, patented September 12, 1911, Circular knitting machine. A vertical shaft 32, to which said pinions are fastened, is driven by a pulley 33 through a shaft 34 and gearing, substantially as shown and described in said Letters Patent. 1 1

Yarn 35 isfed through a guide eye 36, Fig. 3, to a reciprocatory yarn guide 37 and thence the yarn 35 passes into alignment with the sinkers of a sinker wheel 38 rotatably mounted upon a bracket 39, the sinker wheel being rotated by a gear 40 driven by the primary needles 21. The operation of the sinker wheel and its construction are substantially the same as that of thesinker wheel in said Letters Patent.

The beards of the primary needles are pressed by a presser bar 42,- which is fastened to a rod 43 slidable in a bracket 44 fast to the lower bed plate 24. The rod 43 has an arm 45 fast thereto and slidable on a rod 46 fast to the bracket 44. Nuts 47 have screw-threaded engagement with the outer end of the rod 45 and between these nuts and the arm 45 a spiral spring 48'is interposed, acting to force the arm 45, rod 43 and presser bar 42 against the primary needles to press their beards in casting 0E the loops. All of this mechanism is substantially the same as described in said Letters Patent.

The beards of the secondary needles 27 are pressed to cast off their loops by a rotary presser wheel 49, see Fig. 3, which is mounted. and operated substantially the same as the presser wheel 32, in said Letters Patent.

The yarn guide 37 is fastened to a slide 50 slidably mounted in a bracket 51, see Figs. 2 and 3. The bracket 51. is fastened to the underside of the upper bed plate 29. Said slide 50 has an arm 52 projectinglaterally therefrom and connected by an adjustable link 53 to a lever 54 which is pivoted. at 55 to a bracket 56 fast to the upper bed plate 29, The opposite end of the lever 54 to that at which the link53 is connected, engages the under edge of a cam 57 which is fastened to a rotary contact member 58 mounted upon a stud 59 which, in turn, is fastened to the annular plate 31 and thereby is fastened to the upper bed plate 29. A spring 60 encircles the stud 59 within a recessed portion (51 formed in a hub 62 of the rotary contact member 58 and said spring 61 presses the contact member 58 against the underside of a head 63 of the stud 59, thus providing sufficient friction to prevent the rotary con tact member 53 from spinning upon the stud 59.

To the upper face of the rotary contact member53 are fastened four arms 64, which thus form a part of the contact member 53. An intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the rotary contact member 58 in a manner hereinafter described, and the cam 57 is thus rotated to push the inner end of the lever 54 downwardly, a spring 65 acting to hold the inner end of the'lever 54 against the edge of the cam 57. The rotary contact member 53 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (Z, Fig. and the cam 57 will thus push the inner end of the lever 54 downwardly raising the outer end of said lever and through the link 53 and slide 50 the yarn guide 37 will be raised out of operative position, that is, from the position illustrated in Fig. 12 to that illustrated in Fig. 10. In Fig. 12 theyarn is being fed to the needles in alignment with the sinkers 38 of the sinker wheel 38 and between the yarn guide 37 and the needles there is positioned a stationary yarn guard 66:, the operation of feeding the yarn to the primary needles by the sinkers being the as described in said Letters Patent.

When the yarn guide moves from the posi tion illustrated in Fig. 12 to that illustrated in F ig. 10, the yarn 35 is raised out of the path of the sinkers 38 and is cut off and clamped b; a movable cutter 67 coacting with a stationary cutter 68, all as set forth in said Letters Patent.

The presser bar 42 is moved outwardly from engagement with the primary needles when the yarn is cut off, in order that the loops on the primary needles may not be cast off, and this movement of the presser bar 42 is accomplished by an arm 69 which is fastened to the lower end of a vertical shaft 70. the free end of the arm 69 hearing against one face of an arm 71 which is rigidly fastened to the arm 45. A rocking motion imparted to the shaft and the arm 69 by another arm 72 fast to the upper end of the shaft 70. which shaft is rotatably mounted. in a bracket 7 3 fast to the upper bed plate 29.

A. rocking motion is imparted to the arm 72 by a cam 74 which forms a part of tlr rotary contact'member 58, so that when motion is imparted to the rotary contact mem ber 58, the cam 74 bearing against the arm 72 will rock it, together with the shaft 70, and arm 69, and thus push the arms 71 and 45, which are in effect one piece, away from the needle cylinder, compressing the spring 48 igsesgerzi and throngh the rd43 moving the presser bar 42min of engagement with the primary oiithe lever 77 into ali nmentwith the needles.

A rockin'g'motion is imparted to the movable critter blade 67 by a cam-'75 "East to a bracket91 on 'thegear 30,'so that as said gear 30 rotates the cam- 75 will be brought into engagement with the lower edge 70 of a lever 77 pivoted at 7 8 to a bracket 79 fast to the upper bed plate. The outer end of the lever 77 is connected by an adjustable link 80 to an =arm 81 fast to the movable cutter blade 07. The -movable cutter blade is pivoted to a stud 82 fastened to a stationary 'bra'cket'83, so that a's the lever 77 is rocked upwardly at its inner end, the critter 67 will be rocked to close the same and out ed the yarn and clamp it to the stationary cutter '08. cutter .67 is only operated to sever the yarn when :the yarn guidehas been raised to the position illustrated in Fig. 10 and the yarn is out otalighment with the sinlrers and. therefore, the-inner end of 'the lever-'77 is normally held upwardly out 0*? the path of the eam 75 by an: arm 84 which has an ear 85 projecting nor ally beneath the inner end o'ftth'e lever 77, asillnstratedin 3 an d 4.

The arm "8 1ispivotallymounted at 86 to the ripper "bed plate 29: A spring 87 normally holds the arm '84: with the ear 85 projecting: beneath the lever 77:, but at the proper time and when it is desired'to cut the yarn, one 'ct the arms'64 of the retary contact member-58,;jsce F 45, tooth 88 on the free of I the right, Fig. 4:, merino; the ear 85 out from under the "lever 77' and" lowing the inner end of the lever 77 to he moved downwardly by a spring 89, t-hus bringing t'heinner end in 75 to'be operated thereby at the proper time theretation of the needle bed, and opening;

1 Vertical lv inthe bracket and either itsupper or lower position by a springthe cutter 67. 7

An intermittent rotary m parted to the driven contact member 58 a drivi 11;; contact memher 90.v which consi s of a pin slidablv mounted in a hraclr fastenedto the gear'30. trated' in Figvil is in i lowermost position and when in this p0 ion will operate (.1

vement is inn ing therotation oftheneerilebeds and to impart an intermittent rotatable 1 ovement to the rotary contact member '58 with s arms '64, by reason of the pin '90 contacti' with one of the arms '6 and-rot driven contact member in the dirthe arrcw rl F' V 4a, aqnarter tern;

The driving contaet' r mher'or pin 90- raised ci'it'of alignment w. the arms on "the drivencontactpmember 58, or moved; downf into al gnment with said armsby a ritch plate92 constituting a third "contact member, The pin 90- is fastened to-a slide 111' s id'a the arm 84 and rocks it toward" The pin 90, as ililns-a entemhediment ot'my invention it .is intended to use eight feeds positioned at 1,2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7 and 8, Fig. 1. v v

The switch plate 92 is rocked into either of the positions illustrated in Fig. 5 by an arm 93 which is tastened' toa shaft 94 mounted in a bracket 95 fast to the stationary ring 3L Th switch plate 92 is fastened to the inner end of the rock movement is imparted to the arm 93 and the rock shaft 94 andsw1tchplate'92 by an arm shaft 94:. A rocking-V 96 w ch isconnected-by-"a link to the arm 93, and a rocking movement is imparted to f shaft- 8 mounted 'inbearings 99 in a bracket'100 which is itast'ened' to the" i rame'101' of the i'na'ehine; f V V The outer endj oithe shattt 98 ha s'san arm ar n 96 by 102 test theretowhioh is engaged bya patternblocl: 103 on the pattern chain-10 lso es i 102 and, rock the switch plate 92 inone direction; When the block 103 has passed the outer end of the to raise theiiree-end ofthe arm arm 102 said arm will drop and the switch plate will be rocked in the opposite direction. The pattern chain 101' is driven by a pattern Wheel 105 in" a manner well known to those skilled in this art, and the paittern wheel'has fastened thereto a ratchet 106 which is rotated by a pawl 107 and rotates upon a stud 108 fast to the frame of the machine, A reciprocator-y motion "is imparted to'the pawl 1 07 by an arm 109, to the free end of "which it is pivoted at 110.

' The arm 109 is fastenedto .aroclr sliatt'113 mounted in a bracket 11 1 fast .to the frame:

of the'machine. The inner end of the rock shaft 113 has another arm 115'iast thereto and provided upon its free end witha cam roll 116 adapted to fastt o the gear 3 0. The-cam "roll 116 is held in 'thepathoi the cam 117 by a spring 118- fast to the free :end of an arm 119 which is in turn fastened to the rock :shaft 11 9 and therefore 'thewarm 115 are limited' as tocdownward' movement by the' arm 119 contacting withithe bracket 11 1. 7

Each of the feeds .1, 2,3, &, 5,6,7and 8 hasa "switch plate, and these switch plates arepesitioned to be engaged by the driving contact member 90, one switch plate in advance ot'each feed.

120 is the switch plate for number .2' teed and is" fastened to the inner end: of :a' rock shaft v i hated by'an arm 121', Fig. 6, WlllCh is fastened to a rock shaft 122' recruited in the I bracket and hav'ing 'fastoned to the inner. end thereof a-n arm 123 which is connected by 'a very fine wire or other fleXiblemem'h'er'12-1 to an arm 125 fast l to the rock shaft 126cn a bracket 127 which is-fastened to the annula'reap plate'31. I The be engaged 'byza cam 117 113. The

ire

wire 124 is guided to the arm 125'by posts 128 which are provided with annular grooves to receive said wire 124. In this manner the switch plate is tipped into position to raise the driving contact member 90, or to lower the same, by a block on the pattern chain 104.

In the same manner the switch plates, or third contact members for the feeds 3 and 4, are operated by arms 129 and 130 fast to respective shafts 131 and 132 mounted to rock in the bracket 100. The shafts 131 and 132 are provided with arms 133 and 134 respectively, and these arms are connected to arms such as the arms 93 and 125, which rock the switch plates or third contact members 92 and 120 respectively. The switch plates and connections to the same from the arms 129 and 130 are not shown in the drawings, but they are substantially the same as the switch plates 92 and 120 and they are operated in substantially the same manner from the arms 129 and 130.

A switch plate or third contact member 135 for feed number 8 is rocked to en age the driving contact member 90 by an arm 136, Fig. 6, which is fastened to rock shaft 13'? mounted to rock in a bracket 138. The inner end of the rock shaft 13? has an arm 139 fastened thereto and connected by a flexible wire 140 guided by post 141 to a rocker arm 142 fast to a rock shaft 143 mounted in a bracket 144 on the ring 31. The switch plate 135 is fast to the inner end of the rock shaft 143 and is operated as hereinbefore described in relation to the switch plates 92 and 120.

Arms 145, 146 and 147 are fastened to shafts 148, 149 and 150 respectively, these shafts being mounted to rock in the bracket 138 and being connected to switch plates for the feeds 7, 6 and 5 respectively, in the same manner as hereinbefore described in relation to the connections to the switch plate 135.

The pattern chain 104 is provided with any number of blocks desired. These blocks may be of different widths and positioned as may desired with relation to the opposite edges of'the pattern chain, so that any one of the switch plates may be operated to position the same in the path of the driving contact member in order to raise or lower it, or ablock 7 may be of sufficient width to raise a plurality ofthearmswhichoperatetopositiontheswitch plates. The'number of blocks and the width of the blocks on the pattern chain 104 is varied and their positions on the chain laterally and longitudinally thereof may be varied in order to throw the feeds into or out of operation as may be desired for producing stripes of different widths and different colors.

Each feed is provided with a needle cam construction of the character illustrated in l s. 8 and 9 and embodying therein a stationary needle cam 151 and a vertically movable needle cam 152. Both the cams 151 and 152 are supported on a bracket which fastened to the lower bed plate 24, and the cam 152 has fastened thereto a stud 154 and is slidable on a guide way 155 on the bracket 153. An arm 156 is pivoted at 157 to the bracket 153 and is drawn downwardly toward a stop 158 by a spring 159, one end of which is fastened to the free end of the arm 156. the other end being fastened to the lower bed plate 24. The stop 158 consists of an arm which is pivoted at 160 to the bracket 153 and is locked in adjustable position by a screw 161. The movement of the cam 152 downwardly is thus limited by the stop 158. Its movement upwardly is limited by a screw 162 on the bracket 1.53 and in alignment with the stud 154 which is fastened to the cam 152. Thus the distance to which the cam 152 can be raised or lowered is limited bythestop screw 162 and by the stop arm 158 respectively.

The obj oct of the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is to hold the cam 152 down with a yielding pressure through the arm 156 and stud 154 and spring 159.

When the machine is doing the regular knitting the yarn is fed first by a sinker wheel to the shanks of the primary needles, they being this time raised, and at this time there is an old loop on the shank of the primary needle below the loop which is fed to it by the sinker. The loop fed to the primary needle by the sink-er, as aforesaid, is long enough to form yarn for a new primary needle loop and a new secondary needle loop, which secondary needle loop the primary needle feeds to the secondary needle when the primary needle is moved down and casts its old loop over the new loop on the primary needle. The secondary needle at this time is down. It has its old loop on the shank and it receives its new loop from the primary needle just above the beard of the secondary needle and below the old loop on the shank of the secondary needle. Now the secondary needle moves up, its heard is pressed to cast off its old loop over its new loop. When thishas been done. we have a loop ontheprimaryneedleunder the beard, and a loop on the secondary needle under the beard. and the primary needle is down andthe secondary needle is up. The secondary needle now moves down and itsloop moves up on its shank. Then the primary needle comes up and has a loop on its shank.

We now come to the next feed. There is no yarn fed at this time to the primaryneedle and consequently there will be no yarn fed to the secondary needle. The primary needle moves down. but is not pressed, and it has no yarn fed to it as ordinarily, therefore it pulls down its old loop and this pulls down the old loop on the secondary needle and pulls it down under the heard of the secondary needle. This will bring an extra strain to bear upon the yarn, and to compensate for this condition and regulate the tension on the loops so that it will not be excessive, the cam 152 will move up slightly due to the tension of the loops and throughithe prirnarly needles nntil a stop screw '162is .engaged byRthe stud 154. This COIIStIllGtlOIlFWll'l apreventzrany :extra strain -loeing brought mo :bear upon the loops of: any J of the feeds .When the yarn is severed'as herein'beforedescribed, lIl'lliQt'llGl' words, there is strain enoughbnithe yarnito pull the old loopon the'secondary rneedle under i-ts heard. in =fother W0I'ClS,. tl1e one loop on ea ch ofzthe secondary needles is not cast oh for "the reason ithatlthecam for the primary needles, illustrated J-ln ilFig. 8, draws the primary I needles down just far enough to cause the old *loopss on the second ary needles to beheld belOW theipoints of the beards of 'the" secondary needles, and when the presser acts on the secondary nee'dles to '1' ress' the beard into the eye, the ol'd' loops on the secondary needles are I lov'ver than the point of the beard, and therefore; :are re- -tained on 'the nee'dlesaand while the second ary needle is raised into'the cast-o1?position by its cam; this loopis 'safelyunder the beard and inthehead of theneedle.

-Referring no'w to F"g. I4',=it will 'loe seen that-the upper needle :27 has fits-Told loop a on "its shank "above the beard of the n eedle 'an'd is being pressedby the pre'sser lg tocast off this old loop, the fabnic being' illus tra'ted' as running from the needles up through the secondary needle bed '26. -Also, in Fig. :14: the new loop of yarn c is being fed to the secondary needles to fornr a'loop d and passes through the oldatop '0 wh'ich has been cast ofittheprimary needle 21; Thenwvhen the presser 49 operatesto pressi'thbeafidof the needleQ'T; theold=1oop grn' ill be CQ St OfifOVGI the new loop cl which is' contained'vvithin the beard'dftheneedleQY. r

In Fig. 15, however, there-is no neyv yarnbeing fed to theprhn'ary 'needles aIid9bythe primary 'needlesto the secondary needles and in this figure itis-sho'vvn that when the presser 49 operates to close the beard of thefneedle 27, it Will not operate-to cast off the'loopd because that-loop is underthebeard ofthe se'condary'n'eedle and it isnn'der' the heard of the secondary "needle "because i the 1 primary needle 21-is pulling down-on the loop mwhi'ch this time is hniitte'dlih'to' the heme. The extra tension wvhich is caused is' compensated for in part by the 4 yielding of the .priniary needle cam 1'52, as *hereinbefore described.

Therefore, it jvvill' be "seen that 'the pr imary needle not having-cast ofi i ts loop cvandai'the secondary needle not hav lngs cast off its loop (l; these two loopsrun to itheiabricZandiare knitted into it, 1' and order to :z'prevent the yarn from'ibreaking; the cam-=152"=moves-:up slightly untilthe stop screw 162 is engaged bythe stop/154:. g l

- Thergenerah operation of 1 the mechanism hereinbefore specificallyan-d-to some eX-tentrin general describedis as follows z-A-ssuminga a feed mechanism:such-'as 'feed"number 1 to" be synchronously {operating ito-fifeed qya'rnizto the primary -needles, the parts willrbeim the relativelpos iitio'n's illustrated in iFigs: 2 and 3;; they yarn guide .37 willcbe I in the :position: illustrated :in

Fig. LlQzandthe yarn will zthen befiedttoathe m primary-needles by? the sin kers'38: the; presser bar -42 will :be

theiroldiloops; the movable cutter blades-67 will be closed and in contact Withthesta- 'c hainFfromstherpositionlillustratedflin dotted lines, Fig 5,: to that shown in full lines. and

- Willaengage the nnderside of :the switch lowermost posltion, 1th atflisy- 'intotthetposition illustrated inlFigB, j

As the driving contact xrnember 90srotates iwith ithe needlebeds; ibei-ng mounted in the bracket 91 which --is astened contact member- 90 is: carried fforward in the direction that the'be'ds: are rotating, namely, inr'the directionvof :the arrow ,"'Fig. il,: the.

contact- 90wlll engagebne offthe: arms 64: and

'rotate'ithei driven contact: 1ne1nberr-58. i11 the a directionas the: arrow cl, Fig A, a quarter turn, hereinb'efore vdescribedand move r'it ifronnthe position? illustrated. inf Fig. f 12 toithatvillustrated in Fiig; 10-. The movable cutter blade Will be opened'fatthis timeiandtheyarn will be z draawn in betWeen the a movable cut-ter blade 67 and the stationary: cutter' blade: 68 by reason of the ear 85 :on the :armr84ebeing Withdrawn: trom under theinner end: of: the leverl7? when one of thezarn1sl64e engages the tooth 88r-on said arIn S lJ The leverv77 being freedat its innenend is dravvnfdovvn- Wardly by l'thez rspring :89, athus maising-zthe outer end" of'ithe lever' Wand momentarily opening the movable cutter bladew67gthrough the link 80 and arm 81, thus allowing the yarn to be: drawn: in between" two blades 67 an'di'68 vvhen'i thefyarni guide 87 =is1 rnoved upwardly -to::the )position illustrated iniFig. 10. uAs-soontas:thisrhasrhappenedtthecutter blade 67 is closed by theoam 75 engagingthe innerdend ofthe lever 16- andrraisings-the same; thus-depressing the link*.80-and closing the 1'1novable: cutter blade 1 .67, severing .--.the yarn and: clamping it. to: the-stationary, eutter blade 68, and before the ca1n 75;-.pas ses out from :beneathathe lower edge. 76 "of the levee? 7 said lever 77 iselocked againstidoyvnlnovement at its inner :end by; thezarm I in .position-ito vpress the bea'rdsl of the primary needleszr2lito east 0E -=thezc0ntact1pin or' d-riving contact-member to the gear 30, "i'tifollowslthat*asi theidriving this willuoperate :the yarn guide as 84 which is released by the arm 640m the driven contact member passing beyond the tooth 88 on said arm 84 and allowing the spring 87 to move the ear 85 under the inner end of the lever 77. The presser bar 42 having been moved outwardly, as hereinbefore set forth, the old loops when the primary needles are moved down at this particular feed will not be cast oil, but will be retained thereon.

The said feed N o. 1 is left out of operation until any number of courses desired have been knit through another feed or feeds, and it is left out of operation by the switch plate 92 being tipped from the position shown in full lines, Fig. 5, to the position shown in dotted lines, so that as the contact pin 90 is brought around after the operation hereinbefore described, whereby the feed number 1 was thrown out of operative relation with. the needles, the said contact pin will engage the switch plate in the position illustrated in dotted lines, Fig. 5, and will be moved upwardly so thatas it passes the driven con".

tact member 58 on feed number 1, it will not engage the arm 6% of said driven contact member. In other words, the feed number 1 will be left out of operation as long as may be desired.

When it is desired to throw it into opera tion, the third contact member or switch plate 92 will be moved into the position illustrated in Fig. 5, in full lines, and the contact pin 90 will be drawn downwardly to engage an arm64 of the driven contact member and the operation hereinbefore described, whereby the yarn guide and presser and cutter were operated, will be reversed. The yarn guide will be thrown into operation, the

presser will be thrown into operation, the cutter will be opened to release the yarn and the yarn will be carried by the yarn guide first downwardly below its normal position, as illustrated in Fig. 11, thus bringing the yarn into alignment with the sinkers, whereupon it will again move upwardly slightly to the position illustrated in Fi 12 and the yarn will then be fed to the needles by the sinkers. During this latter operation the yarn guard 66 will prevent the yarn from being carried by the yarn guide down below the sinkers.

It will be seen, therefore, that by employing blocks of different widths, spaced differently with relation to the edges of the pattern chain, and spaced as may be desired longitudinally of the pattern chain, any desired combination may be obtained whereby stripes of different widths and of difierent colors may be knitted in a tubular fabric'by the machine hereinbefore described.

I claim:

1. A circular spring needle knitting ma chine having, in combination, a rotary circular needle bed, spring needles thereon, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said bed tofeed yarn to said needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a sinker wheel, a presser member adapted tobe engaged by said needles as they are carried along by said needle bed and a driven contact member, means operated by each of said driven contact members to throw its respective yarn guide and presser member into or out of operative position, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle bed and adapted to engage and operate said driven. contact members for the purpose aforesaid, and mechanism to move said driving contact member into or out of the path of said driven contact members.

2. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary circular needle bed, spring needles thereon, a plurality of. feed mechanisms spaced apart around said bed to feed yarn to said needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a sinker wheel, a presser member and a driven contact member, means operated by each of said driven contact mem bersto throw its respective yarn guide and presser member into orout of operative position, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle bed and adapted to engage and operate said driven Contact members for the purpose aforesaid, a third contact member for each feed mechanism adapted to be engaged by said driving contact member during its rotation, and the latter thereby positioned in or out of the path of said driven contact members, and mechanism to position said third contact members in or out of the path of said driving contact member.

3. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary circular needle bed, spring needles thereon, a plurality offeed mechanisms spaced apart around said bed to feed yarn to said needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a sinker wheel, a presser member and a driven contact member, means operated by each of said driven contact members to throw'its respective yarn guide and presser member into or out of operative position, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle bed and adapted to engage and operate said driven contact members for the purpose aforesaid, a third con tact member positioned between each pair of feed mechanisms respectively and adapted to be engaged by said drivin contact member during its rotation, and the latter thereby positioned in or out of the path of the next succeeding driven contact member, and pattern mechanism to position each of said third contact members respectively in or out of the path of said driving contact member.

4. A circular spring needle knitting mahine having, in comb-manta, a'rotary eaciiliar needle bed, spring n'ee c'lle's,thereon, plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart "maria said needlebed to feed yarn to said needles, eachffeed mechanismembodying a' plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said needle bed to'fe'ed yarn to said needles, each feed IDGChELIllSIIl embodylng a singleyarn guide, a smker Wheel and a needle driven contac'tmember, cams oiilar needle bed, spring needles thereon, fa pl rality of feed mechanisms'spa ced apart around said needle bed toffeed yarn to said '1'edles,1each feed V I singleyarn guide,

Presser "adapted to be "engaged" by said needles they are carried along" by said needle bed,fa rotatable driven contactmem- [a we Q"sa d i e n s ssr. e gfii by said rotatable driven contact member remove "said yarn gui de and needle resser into "and out of operative position "relatively to {the les, a driving contactmember rotatable P d e'nsaee n i e ai yd iva na i d ee a resser adapted tobe eng'agedby said needles r they'areca-rried along by said needle bed,

a rotatable driven contact member, cams on said rotatable driven Contact member, means connected to saldyarn gmdeand to said needle Presser and operable by said rotatable driven Contact member came) move said iyarn guideiand ,presser-into d out of on erative positionrelativelyto the needles, a ,drivingvcfontact member rotatable synchro nons1y with; said needle bed and adapted to ngag and imp r t aid ro tabl ive tenta oltn e ersi ndl rotarymotion, 'and mechanism to move said dr ines atmem er i 9 Qfth path of said rotatable driven contact memer v .1 t 7' H 6., circular spring needle knitting maf hin sharin i e inati e a r ary rcular needle bed, spring needles thereon a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced an art aroun sa d. ne d ed t e liy rn fies id needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn g'uide, sinker mechanism and needle pressing means, a rotatable driven contact member, cams on said rotatabledriven contact memben means connected to said yarn gnide and to saidpre ssing means and operable by said rotatable driven Contact n eniber to move said yarn guide and pressing means mto and out of'opei'ative"position relatively, to, the needles, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously" With said needle, bedand' adapted to engage and impart to said rotatable drivencont'aot n e nbers'and cams'fanj t d ma netit foreach teed mechanism jadapted to be engaged by said driving eontaqt'mejmber during its rotation and the latter thereby joositione'd in or out of" the path "of s f a ab ej if en enact mem r i ronl'r jsp n'g'nee'dleknitting chi'nei'having,'in combinatioma rotary circams an, intermittent bed, 'anc chinei havin i t r tea rot y mb nd a 7' tion, a yarn cutter,

, ros n V W rnember'sf in o but of the bath tread driving 'c'ontact'meinber. Y u '8. circii'lar spring fie'e 'dle kn tting chin-e having, in combination, a rotary cited- "la'r needle bed, spring'needles thereon, a plu- "rality' of feedf'mechanisfms apart around said needlebed to feed "yarn' to said needles ,je'aoh feed I mechanism embodying a single yarn gnide, a sinker resser adajptjed t'o' be engaged by said needles as they 'are' c arriedalong said needle v a r' 'otatabl e driven contactinem'ber, means connected to said yarn gfiiide 'and' to cams of saidfrotatable driven "Contact ber, means connected to Said yarnguide third con ac Wheehaneedle "mechanism embodying a 1 a 'smker heel and a'iieeion said presserand operable by said riitatable driven contact member to movesa'id am guide and presser into and ont'of' operative 'position relatively to theneedlesja arn cutt'erfand mechanism to operate the sa- 1e fincluding'a cam rotatable synchronously vtith 'said N v V I 9 A circular spring needle knittingmag, in combinat om'a rotary circular needle bed, s'pr1ng needles 'tliereon,"a plurality of around said needles, each feed needle bed to feed yarn" to' said mechanism embodying a s ngle yarn guide, a rotatable driven contact member, means connected to said yarn guide and operable by said driven Contact member feed mechanisms spaced apart tea to move said 'yarn guide into and out of operative' position relatively: to the needles, driving contact member rotatable synchroby said driving Contact member render said nously w th said" needle bed and adapted to engage andimpart to said rotatable driven yarn cutter mechanism operable or inoperable by said rotatable cam.

10. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary circular needle bcd, spring needles thereon, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apartaround said needle bed to feed yarn to said needles, each mechanism embodying a single slidable yarn guide, a rotatable driven contact member, and means conne 5861 to said yarn guide and operable by said rotatable driven contact member to slide said yarn guide into and out of operative position relatively to said needles.

11. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary circular needle bed, spring needles thereon, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said needle bed to feed yarn to said needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single slidable yarn guide, sink-er mechanism and slidable needle pressing means, a rotatable driven cont-act member, means connected to said yarn guide, andmeans connected to said pressing means and operable by said rotatable driven contact member to slide said yarn guide and pressing means into and out of operative position relatively to said needles.

12. A circular spring needle knitting ma chine having, in combination, a rotary circu lar needle bed, spring needles thereon, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said needle bed to feed yarn to said needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, sinker mechanism, needle pressing means, and a rotatable driven con tact member, means connected to said yarn guide and to said pressing means and operable by said rotatable driven contact member to move said yarn guide and pressing means into and out of ope ative position relatively to the needles, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle a yarn cutter, mechanism to operate the same including a cam rotatable synchronously with said needle bed, a lever, and means normally engaging said lever and holding out of the path of said cam, said lever-engaging means being operable by said driving contact member to release said lever and allow it to move into the path of said cam, whereby said yarn cutter mechanism may be operated 13. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in cmbination, a rotary circular needle bed, spring needles thereon, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said bed to feed yarn to said needles, each feed mechanism embodying a sin f. yarn guide, a sinker Wheel, a presser member and adriven contact 1: iber, moans op rated by each of said driven contact members to throw its respective yarn guide and presser member into or out of operative position, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle bed and adapted to and operate said driven contact members for the purpose aforesaid, a third coir tact member or each feed mechanism com- 1 swi oi plate adapted to be engaged by sane! driving contact member during its rotation and the latter thereby positioned in or out of the path of said driven contact members, a pattern mechanism, and concticns therefrom to said switch plates 'nnereby the latter may be rocked into or out of the path, of said driving contact member. circular spring needle knitting ma chine having, in combination, a circular needle bed and needles, a series of yarn feeds disposed about said bed and spaced apart, each of said feeds embodying therein a single yarn guide, a needle presser adapted to be engaged by said needles as they are carried by said needle bed, and mechanism, including member, to throw said yarn a driven contact guide and presser into and out of operative relation to said needles, and a driving contact 1 iber rotatable synchronously with said :3 bed and adapted to engage and operte sa d driven contact members for the purpose :pecified.

43. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a circular needle bed and needles, a series of yarn feeds disposed about said bed and spaced apart, each of aid feeds embodying therein a single ride, a needle presser member and mechani m, including a driven contact memember into and out of operative relation to said needles, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously ith said needle bed, and pattern actuated contact means provided in advance of each of said feeds respectively and adapted to be engaged by said driving contact member and thereby position the latter in or out of the path of said driven Contact members and said driven contact members operated or not operated thereby respectively for the purpose specified.

16. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a circular needle bed and needles, a series of yarn feeds disposed about said bed and spaced apart, each of said feeds e nbodying therein a single yarn guide, a needle presser member and mechanism, including a driven contact memher, to throw said yarn guide and presser member into and out of operative relation to said needles, a driving contact member rotat able synchronously With said needle bed, a third contact member provided in advance of each of said feeds respectively, pattern means, and connections from said pattern means to each of said third contact members respectively and adapted to position the latter to be engaged by said driving contact member and the latter thereby caused to be moved into to throw said yarn guide and pressei."

, machine having, in combination, a primary or out of the path of said driven contact members and the latter operated or not operated thereby respectively for the purpose specified.

17. A circular spring needle knitting ma-:

chine having, in combination, a rotaryicircue lar needle bed, spring needlesthereon, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said needle bed to feed yarnto said needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, sinker mechanism,

needle pressing means, and a rotatable driven.

chine having, in combination, a rotary circu-- lar needle bed, spring needles thereon, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said needle bed to feedyarn to said needles, each feed mechanism embodyingia single yarn guide, sinker mechanism, needle pressing means, and a rotatable driven contact member, means connected to said yarn guide and to said pressing means and oper-.

able by said rotatable driven contact member to move said yarn guide and pressing means into and out of operative position relatively to the needles, a vertically slidable needle cam at each of said feeds, a spring-actuated lever connected to each of said cams respectlvely,

and means to limit the movement of said levers whereby the tension on the loops may be.

regulated.

19. A circular spring needle rib knitting rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each of saidrotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said beds'to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a sinker wheel, a presser member for the primary needles adapted to be engaged bysaid,

primary needles as they are carried along 'i by the primary needle bed, a presser member for the secondary needles adapted-to be engaged by said secondary needles as they are carried along by said secondary needle bed and a driven contact member, means operated by each of said driven contact members to throw its respective yarn guide and the pressermember for the primary needles into or out of operative position, and a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle beds and adapted to engage and rotatable driven contact operate said driven contact members. for the purpose aforesaid. i

I 20. A circular spring needle rib knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed. mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a

sinker wheel, a presser member for the primaryneedles, a presser member for the secondary needles and a driven contact member, means operated by each of said driven contact members to throw its respective yarn guide and the pressermember for the primary needles into or out ofoperative position, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle beds and adapted to engage and operate said driven contact members for i the purpose aforesaid, and mechanism to move said drlving contact member into or out-of the path of said driven contact members.

21. A circular spring needle rib knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needleson each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanism spaced apart around said beds to feed yarn to the primary needles,'each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a sinker wheel, a presser member for theprimary needles, a presser member for i the secondary needles and a driven contact member, means operated by each of said driven contact members to throw its respective yarn guide and the presser member for the primary needles into or out of operative position, and a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle beds and adapted to engage and operate said driven contact members for the purpose" aforesaid,'and' a third contact member for each feed mechanism adapted to be engaged by said driving contact member during its rotation, and the latter. thereby positioned in or out of'the path of said driven contact 1nembers. r

22. A circular spring needle rib knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a sinker wheel, a presser member for the pri-' mary needles, a presser member for the secondaryneedles and a driven contact member, means operated by each of said driven contact members-to throw itsrespective yarn guide and the presser member for the primary needles into or out of operative posisynchronously With said needle beds and adapted to engage and operate sa1d drlven contact members for the purpose aforesaid, a third contact member for each feed mech-' anism adapted to be engaged by said driving contact member during its rotation, and the latter. thereby positioned in or out of the path of said driven contact members, and mechanism to position said third contact members in or out of the path of said driving contact member.

23. A circular spring needle rib knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality o1" feed mechanisms spaced apart around said beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a sinker Wheel, a presser member for the primary needles, a presser member for the secondary needles and a driven contact member, means operated by each of said driven contact members to throw its respective yarn guide and the presser member for the primary needles into or out of operative position, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously With said needle beds and adapted to engage and operate said driven contact members for the purpose aforesaid, a third contact member positioned between each pair of feed mechanisms respectively and adapted to be engaged by said driving contact member during its rotation and the latter thereby positioned in or out of the path of the next succeeding driven contact member, and mechanism to position each of said third contact members respectively in or out of the path of said driving contact member.

24. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said needle beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, sinker mechanism for the primary needles, a needle presser for the primary needles adapted to be engaged by said primary needles as they are carried along by said primary needle bed, a needle presser for the secondary needles adapted to be engaged by said secondary needles as they are carried along by said secondary needle bed, and a rotatable driven contact member, cams on said rotatable driven contact member, and means connected to said yarn guide and to the presser for the primary needles and operable by said rotatable driven contact member cams to move said yarn guide and the pressing means for the primary needles into and out of operative position relatively to the needles.

25. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said nee.- dle beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, sinker mechanism for the primary needles, a needle presser for the primary needles, adapted to be engaged by said primary needles as they are carried along by said primary needle bed, a needle presser for the secondary needles adapted to be engaged by said secondary needles as they are carried along by said secondary needle bed and a rotatable driven contact member, cams on said rotatable driven contact member, means connected to said yarn guide and to the pressing means for the primary needles and operable by said rotatable driven contact member cams to move said yarn guide and the pressing means for the primary needles into and out of operative position relatively to the needles, and a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle beds and adapted to engage and impart to said rotatable driven contact members and cams an intermittent rotary motion.

26. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each oi said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said needle beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, sinker mechanism for the primary needles, needle pressing means for the primary needles, needle pressing means for the secondary needles and a rotatable driven contact member, cams on said rotatable driven contact member, means connected to said yarn guide and to the pressing means for the primary needles and operable by said rotatable driven contact member cams to move said yarn guide and the pressing means for the primary needles into and out of operative po sition relatively to the needles, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously With said needle beds and adapted to engage and impart to said rotatable driven contact members and cams an intermittent rotary motion, and mechanism to move said driving contact member into or out of the path of said rotatable driven contact members.

27. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each or" said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, sinker mechanism for the primary needles, needle pressing means for the primary needles, needle pressing means for the secondary needles and a rotatable driven contact member, means connected to said yarn guide and to said primary needle pressing means and operable by said rotatable driven contact member to move said yarn guide and pressing means for the primary needles into and out of'operative position relatively to the needles, and a needle cam at each of said feeds, and a spring actuating said needle cam, said cam adapted to be moved upwardly by the needles against the tension of said spring, whereby tension on the loopsv of yarn which are on the needles may be regulated.

28. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality offeed mechanisms spaced apart around said beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide,

sinker mechanism for the primary needles, needle pressing means for the primary needles, needle pressing means for the secondary needles and a rotatable driven contact member, means connected to said yarn guide and to said primary needle pressing means and operable by said rotatable driven contact member to move said yarn guide and pressing means for the primary needles into and out of operative position relatively to the needles, adriving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle beds and adapted to engage and operate said driven contact members for the purpose aforesaid, a needle cam at each of said feeds, and a spring actuating said needle cam, said cam adapted to be moved upwardly by the needles against the tension of said spring, whereby tension on the loops of yarn which are on the needles may be regulated.

29. A circular spring needle rib knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, spring needles thereon, a secondary circular rotary needle bed and spring needles thereon, a plurality of feed mechanism spaced apart around said needle beds to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, sinker mechanism, a presser member for the primary needles, apresser member for the secondary needles and a rotatable driven contact member, means con nected to said yarn guide and to said presser member for the primary needles and operable by said rotatable driven contact memher to move said yarn guide and the presser member for the primary needles into and out of operative position relatively to the primary needles, a yarn cutter, and mechanism to operate the same including a cam rotatable synchronously with said needle beds.

30. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed, a secondary circular rotaryneedle bed, spring needles on each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms, spaced apart around said needle beds, to feed yarn to the primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, sinker mechanism, needle pressing means for the primary needles, needle pressing means for the secondary needles,

a rotatable driven contact member, means connected to said yarn guide and to said pressing means for the primary needles and operable by said rotatable driven contact member to move said yarn guide and the pressing means for the primary needles into and out of operative position relatively to the needles, a driving contact member rotatable synchronously with said needle beds and adapted to engage and impart to said rotatable driven contact members an intermittent rotary motion, a yarn cutter, mechanism to operate the same including a cam rotatable synchronously with said needle beds, and means operable by said driving contact member to render said yarn cutter mechanism operable or inoperable by said rotatable cam.

' 31. A circular spring needle knitting machine having, in combination, a primary rotary circular needle bed,'a secondary circular rotary needle bed, spring needles on each of said rotary needle beds, a plurality of feed mechanisms spaced apart around said needle beds to feed yarn to said primary needles, each feed mechanism embodying a single yarn guide, a rotatable driven contact member, means connected to said yarn guide and operable by said rotatable driven contact member to move said yarn guide into and out of operative position relatively to the primary needles, a driving contact member beds and adapted to engage and impart to said rotatable driven contact member an intermittent rotary motion, a yarn cutter,

mechanism to operate the same including a mechanism operable or inoperable by said rotatable cam.

rotatable synchronously with said needle- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 

